RedNovelRegret 79 When Lana rushed into the hospital room, she was startled to see Charlotte's swollen, red-rimmed eyes. "Oh my goodness, what happened to you?" Charlotte could barely open her eyes, and even then, every blink brought a sting of pain.
"Someone threw pepper spray in my face. The doctors said I just need to rest for a while. I'll be fine." "How on earth did that happen?" Lana sat down in the visitor's chair, her brow furrowing. "Does your husband know about this? I should call him-" "Please, don't." Charlotte reached out, fumbling until her hand found Lana's and pressed it down gently. "He's busy with work. I don't want to trouble him. Lana, you're the only one I trust right now." Something in Charlotte's quiet plea tugged at Lana's heart. She nodded, promising to keep it between them.
Charlotte stayed in the hospital for two days. It wasn't until the third day that she could fully open her eyes, though her eyelids were still a little puffy. Lana took care of her as best she could-bringing her meals, keeping her company, tending to everything with quiet diligence.
Just after Lana left at noon, Tricia appeared at the doorway, taking her tas she strolled in. "Dr. Sterling, I heard you were in the hospital. I thought I'd drop by." Charlotte sat upright against the headboard, her face cool and unreadable. "Are you really here out of concern, or just to gloat?" "Why do you have to put it that way?" Tricia set her designer purse-a brand-new LV, the tags barely off-on the chair beside her, stroking the leather. "So, Evander hasn't cto visit you?" When Charlotte didn't answer, Tricia's lips curled in a smile. "Ah, I suppose he couldn't. He was withyesterday, actually. We went shopping together-this bag cost eight grand, and he didn't even blink before handing over his card." "You've been with Evander for ages now. Has he ever found tto go shopping with you?" Charlotte's expression didn't change, but her eyes flickered at the words. She knew 1/3 napter exactly why Tricia had come: to flaunt, to stab at old wounds.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtShe could pretend not to see or hear, but that would only be lying to herself.
Releasing the tension in her jaw, Charlotte finally spoke, her voice low and sincere. "Tricia, you've already won. Evander's heart belongs to you. The two of you are together, isn't that enough? Why keep coming after me?" Tricia heard the calm resignation and felt a strange sting-almost as if she were the one being mocked.
She didn't understand it herself. Evander always treated Charlotte coldly in front of her, made it clear there was nothing between them. And yet, behind closed doors, he was running to Charlotte's side the moment she got hurt.
He could fool everyone else, but he couldn't fool her.
A hard glint flashed through Tricia's eyes. "If you want peace, why don't you just leave the hospital? Disappear from Evander's life?" Charlotte was taken aback.
So that was what this was really about.
After a moment, she replied quietly, "Don't worry. Give it a month, and I'll be gone. No one will be in your way anymore." "And how do I know you're telling the truth?" "Believe what you want." Turning away, Charlotte stared out the window at the breeze stirring the curtains.
She doubted Tricia would believe her, but she was too tired to explain.
Tricia mulled over her words for a moment, then got up and left without another glance. F. 6 =
Charlotte kept her gaze on the swaying curtains, her hands clenched tightly in the sheets. All her pain and quiet endurance-none of it escaped the notice of the man in the hallway, his baseball cap drawn low over his eyes.
Hiram had been tailing Tricia for days now, and by accident, he'ddiscovered that this cruel woman was the one who'd ordered the pepper spray attack on his sister. Charlotte was here, hurt and alone, and she hadn't even called him for help.
She'd shouldered everything on her own.
212 Hiram's hands balled into fists as his eyes grew wet with anger.
This time, he swore to himself, he would be the one to protect her.
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